Button structure

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a housing, a button plate, a support element and a printed circuit board. The housing has an opening. The button plate is disposed at the opening of the housing, has a central region and two sides, wherein the button plate is mounted to the housing through the two ends of the two sides formed by elastic arms respectively. The support element is disposed under the central region of the button plate for defining the button plate into left and right parts. The printed circuit board is located underneath the support element, has two switches located respectively corresponds to the left and right parts of the button plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.11/510,587, filed on Aug. 28, 2006, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference and for which priority is claimed under35 U.S.C. §120. This nonprovisional application also claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 094145350 filed inTaiwan R.O.C. on Dec. 20, 2005, the entirety of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a button structure, and moreparticularly to a button structure that has a thinner design in itscentral region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Along with the prosperity in portable electronic products, the notebookcomputer has a trend of light-weight and becomes popular with users inthe youth generation. Besides the appearance, the practical function ofthe notebook computer is also one of key factors to determine a finalpurchase of a notebook computer. One of various options in a typicalnotebook computer is the index device for controlling the cursor on thescreen. Options of the index devices include mice, track balls, joysticks, touch pads, push pillars and so on. In particular, the touch padwhose operation involve only movements of user's finger on the touch padand some key striking is definite a suitable device to be built in thenotebook computer.

Referring to FIG. 1 a, a perspective view of a conventional notebookhaving a touch pad is shown. The notebook 1 (i.e. briefing of “notebookcomputer”) includes an upper housing 101, a lower housing 102, a displayscreen 11, an operation panel 12 and a touch pad assembly 13. Thedisplay screen 11 and the operation panel 12 are located respectively onthe upper housing 101 and the lower housing 102. The touch pad assembly13 is located on the lower housing 102 next to the operation panel 12.

Referring to FIG. 1 b, a cross sectional view of the touch pad 13 alongline AA′ of FIG. 1 a is shown. The touch pad assembly 13 includes atouch pad 131, a fixed frame 132 and a printed circuit board 133. Thefixed frame 132 is transversely (in the paper view) structured to thelower housing 102. The touch pad 131 is then mainly supported by thefixed frame 132 in the middle. The printed circuit board 133 sets rightunder the touch pad 131 and have two switches 134 on two sides withrespect to the fixed frame 132. By depressing the touch pad 131 properlyto trigger the switch 134, a predetermined electrical signal can begenerated and forwarded to the printed circuit board 133 so as toinitiate a preset action of the notebook computer.

For the middle-located fixed axle is a solid support with respect to thetouch pad, so a depression close enough to the fixed axle would be quitepossible to cause no substantial deflection to the touch pad so that anexpected electrical action at the switch under the touch pad might bemissed. Further, for the fixed axle halves the elastic touch pad, noseesaw-like motion about the fixed axle can be provided to avoid apossible double hitting at both halves of the touch pad, whichdefinitely leads to a wrong or invalid switch action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide to a button structurethat has a button plate having a thinner central region.

In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, the buttonstructure applied to an electronic device includes a housing, a buttonplate, a support element and a printed circuit board. The button plateis located in a central opening of the housing. A central region of thebutton plate has a first thickness, and two sides of the button platehave a second thickness, in which the second thickness is thicker thanthe first thickness. Two ends of the button plate are separately formedas respective elastic arms. The support element is sited under thebutton plate right under the central region of the button plate. Withthe support element, the button plate is defined into left and rightparts. The printed circuit board sets underneath the support element andhas two switches corresponds to the left and right parts of the buttonplate.

In a preferred embodiment, the button plate is a thickness-varying platewith a thinner thickness in the central region, but the upper surface ofthe button plate is maintained as a flat surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the support element is made of a transparentmaterial for transmitting light from a light source on the printedcircuit board to the central region of the button plate.

In a preferred embodiment, a bracket under the support element isincluded to provide a bracket's hole for engaging the support element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of this invention will become moreapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a conventional notebook computerhaving a touch pad;

FIG. 1 b is a cross sectional view along line AA′ of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a notebook computer having a preferredbutton structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 b is a cross sectional view of the button structure of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of a preferred button plate of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 b is a reverse view of FIG. 3 b;

FIG. 3 c is a perspective view of a preferred support element of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 d is a perspective view of another support element of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 e is a perspective view of a preferred bracket of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 f is a perspective view showing how the bracket of FIG. 3 e ismounted to a lower housing of the present invention;

FIG. 4 a is an exploded view of the button structure in the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 b is a perspective view showing an assembly state of FIG. 4 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is related to a button structure, and moreparticularly to a button structure that has a thinner design in thecentral region of an elastic plate playing as the conventional touchpad.

Please refer to FIG. 2 a, a perspective view of the button structure inthe notebook computer (called notebook, thereafter) is shown. Thenotebook 2 comprises an upper housing 21, a lower housing 22, a displayscreen 23, an operation panel 24 and a button structure 25. The displayscreen 23 and the operation panel 24 are fabricated to the upper housing21 and the lower housing 22, respectively. The button structure 25 setson the lower housing 22 next to the operation panel 24.

Referring to FIG. 2 b, a cross sectional view of the button structure 25of FIG. 2 a is shown. The button structure 25 constructed at the lowerhousing 22 includes a button plate 26, a support element 27 and aprinted circuit board 28. The button plate 26 is contained in a centralopening 250 of the lower housing 22. A central region of the buttonplate 26 has a first thickness 2601, and two sides thereof have a secondthickness 2602. The second thickness 2602 is thicker than the firstthickness 2601. The printed circuit board 28 sets underneath the supportelement 27 and has two switches 281 corresponding respectively to theleft and right parts of the button plate 26. Further, the printedcircuit board 28 comprises a bracket 29 for loading thereabove thesupport element 27.

Please refer to FIGS. 3 a-3 b, where a perspective view and its reverseview of the button plate 26 of the present invention are respectivelyshown. The button plate 26 made of an elastic material is thicker at twosides and thinner in the central region. The upper surface of the buttonplate 26 is flat, while its lower surface is a ramp surface. As shown inFIG. 3 b, the lower surface protrudes a plurality of second columns 262for limiting vertical movement of the button plate 26 with respect tothe printed circuit board 28. Besides, the lower surface of the buttonplate 26 also protrudes a plurality of the third columns 263 for playingthe touch points to trigger the respective switches 281.

As shown, two opposing sides of the button plate 26 are structured aselastic arms 264. In particular, the elastic arm 264 is formed as arectangle loop structure. Also, in the far end of the arms 264, aplurality of holes 2641 (three shown in this embodiment) are includedfor positioning the button plate 26 to the housing.

Referring to FIG. 3 c, a perspective view of a preferred support element27 of the present invention is shown. The support element 27 is a boneblock to stand upright under the central region of the button plate 26.The support element 27 provides a first support element 271 to contactand thus support the central region of the button plate 26. Opposing tothe first support element 271, the support element 27 also has a secondelement 272 to sit on a bracket 29 that will be described in a latersection. Further, to help locate the support element 27 to the bracket29, the support element 27 also includes a pair of fourth columns 273separated to opposing sides of the second element 272.

In another preferred embodiment, the support element 27 can be made of atransparent material. Referring to FIG. 3 d, a perspective view ofanother support element 30 is shown. In this embodiment, the supportelement 30 is made of a transparent material. Similar to the forgoingsupport element 27, the support element 30 also includes the firstsupport element 301 and the second support element 302. In application,the light emitted by a light source located on the printed circuit board28 and right under the support element 30 can be transmitted through thesupport element 30 and reach the central region of the button plate 26.

Referring to FIG. 3 e, a perspective view of the bracket 29 of thepresent invention is perspective shown. Two ends of the bracket 29 arebent vertically so as to form the bracket 29 in a

shape as shown. The central region of the bracket 29 includes abracket's hole 291 for the support element 27 or the second guide 272 ofthe support element 30 to pass through while in engaging with thebracket 29. Two holes 292 for engaging the fourth columns 273 bylocking, hot melting or any relevant way are located aside to thebracket's hole 291, with one at each side. Also, a first hole 293 islocated close to one longitudinal end of the bracket's hole 292.Referring to FIG. 3 f, a perspective view of the bracket 29 mounted onthe lower housing 22 of the present invention is shown. The bracket 29is mounted on the support element 27 (or 30), while the support element27 or 30 is mounted on the lower housing 22. As shown, the lower housing22 provides a hook 2201 to lock on the bracket 29, and a column 2202 toengage the first hole 293 by screw-locking or other ways.

Referring to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, an exploded view and a perspective viewof the button structure of the present invention are respectively shown.The button structure includes a lower housing 22, a button plate 26, asupport element 30, a bracket 29 and a printed circuit board (PCB) 28.The bracket 29 and the support element 30 are integrated by having thesecond support column 272 match with the bracket's hole 291. The firstholes 293 of the bracket 29 are locked to the column 2202 of the lowerhousing 22. Two longitudinal ends of the bracket 29 are fixed, by hooksor screws, to the lower housing 22. The hole 2641 of the elastic arm 264engages the fifth column 221 of the lower housing 22. As shown in FIG. 4b, the upper surface of the button plate 26 is exposed to the centralopening 250 of the lower housing 22. The switches 281 of the PCB 28 arethen located properly with respect to the third columns 263 of thebutton plate 26. The third holes 284 around the PCB 28 are locked to thesixth columns 223 of the lower housing 22. Upon such an arrangement, theleft and right switches can be triggered by depressing the button plate26 at proper positions, and the light from the PCB 28 can pass throughthe support element 30 and may be transmitted upward to project on thecentral region of the button plate 26.

In another embodiment, the button plate can be made of a plastics, ametal or other transparent materials. The button plate can be assembledin the housing or applied to other proper elements in the LED frontframe. The appearance of the button plate can also be painted for anyartistic or functional purpose. Further, the central region of thebutton plate has a thinner thickness, while the two sides have thickerthickness.

To sum up, the present invention provides a thickness-varying design tothe button plate with a thinner thickness in the central region toovercome the shortcoming of the traditional touching plate in seesawtouching feeling. By providing the present invention, the buttonmovement in the central region can be clearly felt by the fingers.Further, by providing the support element to support the button plate atthe central region, support element or the support element and thebracket, touching on the button plate as well as the switch in eitherside of the support element can be easily distinguished. Also, byproviding the transparent support element, the light emitted fromelements on the printed circuit board can be transmitted upward to thecentral region of the button plate.

1. An electronic device, comprising: a housing, having an opening; abutton plate, disposed at the opening of the housing, having a centralregion and two sides, the button plate being mounted to the housingthrough the two ends of the two sides formed by elastic armsrespectively; a support element, disposed under the central region ofthe button plate for defining the button plate into left and rightparts; and a printed circuit board, located underneath the supportelement, having two switches located respectively corresponds to theleft and right parts of the button plate.
 2. The electronic deviceaccording of claim 1, wherein the button plate is a smooththickness-varying plate.
 3. The electronic device according of claim 1,wherein an upper surface of the button plate is a flat surface.
 4. Theelectronic device according of claim 1, wherein the support element ismade of a transparent material.
 5. The electronic device according ofclaim 4, wherein the printed circuit board has a light source locatedright under the support element.
 6. The electronic device according ofclaim 1, wherein the support element further includes a support columnto support at the central region of the button plate.
 7. The electronicdevice according of claim 1, further comprising a bracket having abracket's hole to engage the support element.
 8. The electronic deviceaccording of claim 1, wherein the central region includes a firstthickness, the two sides respectively include a second thickness largerthan the first thickness.
 9. An electronic device, comprising: ahousing, having an opening; a button plate, disposed at the opening ofthe housing, having a central region and two sides, the button platebeing mounted to the housing through the two ends of the two sidesformed by elastic arms respectively; a light guide, disposed under thecentral region of the button plate for defining the button plate intoleft and right parts, the light guide is made of a transparent material,and right under the light guide can be transmitted through the lightguide and reach the central region of the button plate; and a printedcircuit board, located underneath the light guide, having two switcheslocated respectively corresponds to the left and right parts of thebutton plate.
 10. The electronic device according of claim 9, whereinthe button plate is a smooth thickness-varying plate.
 11. The electronicdevice according of claim 9, wherein an upper surface of the buttonplate is a flat surface.
 12. The electronic device according of claim11, wherein the printed circuit board has a light source located rightunder the support element.
 13. The electronic device according of claim10, wherein the light guide further includes a support column to supportat the central region of the button plate.
 14. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 10, further comprising a bracket having a bracket'shole to engage the light guide.
 15. The electronic device according ofclaim 10, wherein the central region includes a first thickness, the twosides respectively include a second thickness larger than the firstthickness.
 16. An electronic device, comprising: a housing, having anopening; a button structure, disposed at the opening of the housing andmounted to the housing through the two elastic arms of the two ends ofthe button structure; a printed circuit board, located under the buttonstructure, having two switches; wherein, the positions of the buttonstructure being defined as left and right parts by the two switchesrespectively corresponding to, and the left and right parts beingconnected to each other.